Photo: Supplied.
BY LIZ MALONEY, MANAGER AND COACH, DONALD SWIMMING, CLEVELAND
When contacted by Councillor Peter Mitchell, my heart went out to this family of refugees. Further information was provided by a community group working under a Federal Government program to welcome and support approved refugees during their first year in Australia.
The family was forced to leave their home in Syria, then onto Lebanon, and finally arrived in Brisbane in September 2023. The refugees are aged nine, 11, 14 and 20.
Following a discussion with our company, Donald Swimming, we decided to provide a program to ensure, firstly, safety in and around the water.
The children had little water experience apart from paddling in knee-deep water. They were so excited to go into the water; however, it would have been very risky with their current abilities.
Can you imagine our children not having the opportunity to learn to swim? To love and have fun in the water? We are surrounded by water, and we know how to love and enjoy it safely.
Every child in Australia needs to learn how to swim – for safety, exercise and fun. Those children who can’t swim are a danger to not only themselves but those who might have to rescue them.
This family has not had the opportunities we have, and were very nervous and anxious on our first meeting. The swimming pool was unknown. Our first priority was comfort and confidence, with a lot of hand-holding and building trust.
The language barrier – our staff and I soon found ways around it, using demonstrations, ‘sign language’, and phone translation.
Hooray, they started to settle in! Water safety was our next objective, and this they are accomplishing and understanding. We think nothing of floating on our backs, but not for these four – very daunting. ‘Is good’, ‘OK’ became their catch cry.
We moved forward to ‘The Swim’. Their understanding is better and their skills greatly improving, with one of the girls, Rahaf, being named Swimmer of the Week, an award presented by Councillor Mitchell.
We at Donald Swimming are humbled and very proud of the opportunity and the work we are able to do in this area.
As Australians, we have a lot to offer. Starting a new life in Australia, particularly in our beautiful Redlands, is a great start.
Donald Swimming is proud to be part of this pilot program.
